I didn't reply to Mr. James.
But Jill went ahead and booked the project meeting for me, in the client reception room at the company.
Mr. James sat in the middle of the couch.
The moment I walked in, he patted the spot beside him.
"Sit here."
I sat down across from him.
Jill pushed a chair toward me.
"How are we supposed to talk about the project sitting that far apart?"
"The proposal's on the table."
"What's the fun in just talking about a proposal?"
Mr. James stared at my clothes.
"You dressed pretty conservatively at the party."
"Did you already know what card you'd draw?"
Jill laughed.
"She just talks tough."
"In private she really knows how to sweet-talk a man."
I opened the voice recorder on my phone and slipped it into my coat pocket.
"Jill, did you see that with your own eyes?"
Her smile faded.
"It was a joke."
"Spreading filth about me in front of a client—that's a joke too?"
Stuart frowned.
"Regina, we're here today to solve a problem."
"Apologize to Mr. James first."
"I didn't do anything wrong."
Mr. James tossed the proposal onto the table.
"Then there's nothing to discuss."
"Anyone can handle an order like mine."
I pressed my hand flat on the proposal.
"The user data, the venue flow, and the ad rollout are all confirmed."
"Switch now, and your project gets delayed at least a month."
He looked at me for a moment.
"Regina really does have talent."
"Just too proud."
He stood, came around to my side.
His hand landed on my shoulder.
"Have a couple of drinks with the client, soften up a little, and everything's fine."
I stood up at once.
His hand slid down from my shoulder to my waist.
I shoved him off.
"Don't touch me."
Mr. James took two steps back.
Jill snapped her phone up fast.
A line of live chat drifted across my vision.
【Don't get physical.】
【There's another phone behind the vase.】
I turned to look.
In the corner behind the vase, a small black lens peeked out, aimed right at me.
Jill caught where my eyes went and stepped over to block it.
"What are you looking at?"
I didn't go for it.
"You set up a camera ahead of time?"
Stuart said,
"We keep footage of project meetings. Perfectly normal."
"Then why is it hidden behind the vase?"
"Someone just set the equipment down there."
Mr. James rubbed the shoulder I'd pushed.
"This woman's no good."
"A client so much as touches her and she goes off the rails. How's she supposed to run projects?"
Jill hooked her arm through his.
"Don't be angry. She's young, doesn't know how to behave."
I looked at her.
"Didn't you say you were the one handling the client?"
"Then you keep him company today."
Jill's face stiffened.
But Mr. James laughed.
"She and I know each other too well. Nothing special there."
"You're the type I like—the ones with some fire."
Still talking, he reached for my hand again.
I backed up until I was under the camera.
"Touch me again and I'm calling the police."
Stuart slammed the table.
"Enough!"
"Regina, you're suspended for today."
"Come back when you're ready to apologize to Mr. James."
I picked up the proposal.
Jill grabbed it.
"The project isn't yours anymore."
The paper tore.
She looked at the ripped proposal and smiled.
"Sorry. Slipped out of my hand."
That same night, the hidden video from behind the vase was posted to the company group chat.
The clip started from Mr. James stepping back.
No him touching me. No me warning him.
Just the few seconds of me reaching out and shoving him.
Jill's caption read:
【Wow, Manager Sullivan gets physical with a client. Again.】
Stuart followed right after with a notice:
【Tomorrow, 7 p.m. Come to the hotel and formally apologize to Mr. James.】
【Failure to show will be treated as seriously harming the project.】
I stared at the hotel address.
New live chat surfaced in front of me.
【They've got a room key ready.】
【Don't go into a room alone.】
